Page 24 of The Secrets We Keep

“What the fuck are these?” He growls as he thrusts two pregnancy tests in my direction.

I gasp. I know that I threw them in the garbage outside. I didn’t put them in the trash inside because I knew that he would find them. It wouldn’t be the first time he went through my garbage.

“I said what the fuck are these?” He yells as he tosses the tests to the side and rushes me. He grabs me by the throat and presses me against the wall. “Are you fucking pregnant?”

I whimper but nod my head. My father has always had anger issues, but he’s never actually hurt me before. At least not physically.

“You stupid fucking bitch!” He yells in my face before pushing me back into the wall and turning around. “You’re not fucking up my plans.”

“What are you talking about?” I rasp, rubbing my throat.

He spins around and snaps out so fast that I don’t have a chance to react. He smacks me. My head whips to the right and stars dance in my vision. I look at him with tears in my eyes. He looks manic.

“Get the fuck out of my house. Get the fuck out of my town. Take that bastard child far away from here. Don’t tell anyone what you’re doing or where you’re going. Just. Leave.”

“What? No, I can’t leave Grayson. He’s going to be a dad. He deserves to be a dad,” I plead.

“I don’t fucking care! You’re going to leave and not come back. If you even attempt to tell Grayson or anyone else, I’ll fucking kill you and your bastard. Then I’ll kill Grayson for the hell of it. Your stupid ass isn’t going to fuck with my plans!” He yells as he paces the room. “I will fucking ruin you. You think that Grayson will want a baby that’s not his?” He scoffs when he sees the confused look on my face. “You don’t think he’ll believe me when I tell him that you cheated and the baby isn’t his? He won’t want either of you. Do yourself a favor and get the fuck out before I kill you both!”

I don’t move from that spot, horrified of the threats that just left my father’s mouth. A man who is supposed to love you and protect you, not threaten your life. Not threaten the life of your unborn child or the man that you love.

“Fucking move!”

I jump and start packing my bags, shaking the entire time. Tears spill down my cheeks as I put the giftbag into my duffle and zip it shut. How can I leave without Grayson knowing I’m pregnant? How can I leave my home? It’s the last thing I want, but I’ll do whatever I have to do to protect my child and the man I love more than anything.

My arm is yanked back, and my father’s hot breath tickles my cheek. “I have eyes everywhere, bitch. I’ll know if you contact him. I’ll know if you try to come back. I’ll know if you try to plot against me. If you fuck up, I’ll cut that baby out myself.”

I shoot up in my bed, gasping for air, only to jump when I feel someone’s arms wrap around me.

“It’s okay, Soph,” Grayson murmurs. “It’s just me. You were having a nightmare.”

I sag into his embrace, willingthe feel of him to wash away the lingering effects of my nightmare. Every time I have that nightmare it feels like I’m right there in that moment. Terrified.Alone.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Grayson asks sleepily.

I shake my head. “What are you doing here?”

He sighs. “I shouldn’t have run out like I did earlier. I’m sorry.”

My chest aches at his words. “I’m sorry I left,” I whisper.

Grayson pulls me closer. “We’ll talk about it in the morning, let’s just get some sleep for now.”

I curl further into his warmth and revel in it. I was terrified that Grayson would never forgive me for leaving town while I was pregnant, but surely this is a good sign. I don’t get to worry for long, though, because Grayson’s warmth lulls me to sleep.

19

GRAYSON

I wake up with Sophie lying across my chest, just like she always did. I smile as I take in her features, her delicate nose, the dark lashes that fan her cheeks, her parted, full, rosy lips. She’s always been stunning, but the last seven years have been especially good for her.

Sophie always had a great body, but it’s filled in more. Her hips and thighs are fuller; her breasts are larger. I don’t know if it’s from her pregnancy or just from being older. Either way, I love it. She’s a woman now, not the girl I fell in love with.

Sophie’s eyes slowly blink open, and she pulls back from my chest, settling on the bed and facing me. “Morning.”

“Morning,” I tell her softly. “Any more nightmares?”

She shakes her head. “Are you still angry with me?”

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